Combination single-phase line frequency welder and impulse welder



Dec. 20, 1955 clAKY D. 8 2,728,046 COMBINATION SINGLE-PHASE LINE FREQUENCY WELDER AND IMPULSE WELDER Filed J m. 22, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 UN/D/fZ FC 7/04 41 CUR/PEAN- M Wag/N6 P046755 HHHIHH HHIH 1H HHHHH HHIH HH POL/YP/ZEO /?E y M 47 j 55 0 I INVEN TOR.

Dec. 20, 1955 D. SCIAKY 2,728,046 COMBINATION SINGLE-PHASE LINE FREQUENCY WELDER AND IMPULSE WELDER Filed Jan. 22, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fl/VD PHASE 6fl/F77/V6 C/fiCU/T 1 I 5 50 I 55 I INVENTOR. 64

United States Patent ce Patented Dec. 20, 1955 therefor and wherein said discharge valves will rectify the alternating supply current duiing operation of the 2,728 046 system as an impulse welder, and which will act as electronic contactors during conventional sixty-cycle opera- COMBINATION SINGLE-PHASE LINE FREQUENCY tion.

WELDER AND IMPULSE WELDER With these and various other objects in view, the int vention may consist of certain novel features of con- David zfi gg gi fi jg fi g gg g xfi fli fi g struction and operation, as will be more fully described Application January 22, 1953, Serial No. 332,714" ],0 d l i a 14 Claium (CL 323 58) In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the designate like parts- Figure 1 is a schematic wiring diagram of a welding tion relates to Welding Systems for the reslstsystem incorporating the combination features of the presmetals and has reference in particular to inv ntion;

a novel system which will supply several types of WClGlHP igures 2 3 nd 4 are h m n vi w illustrat ng POSI- Ptllses 1n the Secondary 103d clfchit whereby to Provide tions of the contactors for producing respectively a posia versatile welder having utility for many different weld tive pulse of uni-directional current, a negative pulse of ing applications. such current and a current of conventional sixty-cycle For the welding of certain metals the conventional type frequency; of alternating current welder is entirely satisfactory. Dur- Figure 5 graphically illustrates a positive and a negaing operation of these A. C. welders, as they are generally tive pulse of uni-directional current as produced in the termed, a conventional sixty-cycle alternating current is load circuit of the welder when operating as an impulse passed through the work and current flow is maintained welderfor a selected number of cycles, as determined by the Figure 6 graphically illustrates timed pulses of conventimer of the welder; Welding devices of this type employ tional sixty-cycle current which the present welder is also electric discharge valves connected inversely or in back capable of delivering; to back relation and the conductivity of the discharge Figure 7 is a fragmentary schematic wiring diagram valve is controlled by the timer through firing valves illustrating certain circuit elements incorporated in the having electrical connection with the discharge valves. present combination welder;

The conventional A. C. welders have a number of oper- Figure 8 is a wiring diagram illustrating schematically ating disadvantages due largely to the high frequency of the relay mechanism for automatically actuating the con t e current caused to flow in the welding circuit The tactors to effect reversals in the welding current on sucabove disadvantages are eliminated by the single phase cessive pulses; low frequency converters which produce in the welding igure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the circuit three types of power output namely, a single unicircuit connections for controlling and timing a welding directional current pulse of relatively long duration a operation such as may be produced by the present comseries of such uni-directional current pulses of the same ination welder;

polarity, or a series of such current pulses, each being Figure 10 is a view showing the re and so comprising a form of low frequency alternatin in Figures 2 and 3;

current In such a system the magnitude of the secondary Figure 11 is a schematic wiring diagram similar to that current pulses and the duration of each pulse can be conof Figure 1 but showing the manually actuated switch trolled by the voltage of the power supply and by its means in position for conventional sixty-cycle welding;

time of application across the primary windings Figure 12 is a schematic wiiing diagram of the primary general ob ect of the invention is to provide a com- Winding of the welding transformer showing the same inination welder which will include a relatively simple eleceluding four coils in series relation trical circuit and which will operate as a conventional Figure 13 is a schematic wiring diagram similar to F1 h and current for welding, and in the latter case producing igure 14 is a wiring diagram illustrating schematically pulses of unidirectional current such as many comprise a modified form of combination welder coming within any one of the three types of power output above dethe invention scribe eferring to the form of the invention shown in Figure A more particular object is to provide a combination l of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a welding welder which will operate as a conventional sixty-cycle transformer including an iron Core Secondary Windwelder or an impulse welder employing the uni-directional l'hgs and P y windings 13 and The Secondary current impulses for welding, and wherein saidcombinawindings 12 Connected y means of conductor 15 t0 tion welder will incoiporate switch means adapted to be the k circuit or Secondary cll'clllt 0f the Weldlhg trans manually actuated for switching from one mode of operformer and which y Include the Work Pieces to be ation to the other. welded and indicated by numeral 16 e primary wind- A further ob ect is to provide a combination welder of h1g5 13 all 14 are essehtlally one Wlhdlhg and y the character described wherein mechanical contactors Prise the Primary load clfchlt of the transformer although are employed for reversing current flow when the machine as illustrated 1h 1, It cohvehleht to Center p is operated as an impulse welder, the said contactors being the P load Circhlt 80 that windings 13 are located actuated automatically by relay means responsive to curto one Side, Whereas windings 14 are disposed on the ient flow in the windings of the welding transformer Opposite Side- The Center tapplhg 0f thh P y load Another and more spec fic ob ect s to prov de a com. cll'cult 1S efiectfid the Conductor Whlch electrically bination welder as described which will incorporate a Connects with 0116 terminal of the Single Phase alternating welding system employing two electric discharge valves current source indicated by lines L1 and L2. Said source of the asymmetrically conducting type with timing means supplies the conventional sixty-cycle alternating curr and since all industrial plants are provided with such alter- 'possible position of the switching means is also shown nating currentthe terminals of such a source are frein Figure 4 for operation as a conventional si gty cycle quently referred to as a first andsecondbus; Ac'cordwelder, wherein contactor 43 connects terminals A and ingly, it will be seen that conductor 18 is connected at B1 with contactor 44 connecting terminals D and B. 19 to the first bus. 5 The timer has operation in a manner as previously ex- The primary Winding 13 is connected by conductor 29 plained to control the duration of the welding pulse by to terminal C. In a similar manner primary winding controlling the grid bias applied to the grids of the firing 14 is connected by conductors 21 and 22, to terminal B valves. Accordingly, with the system operating as a A mechanical contactor 23 electrically connects terminal converter to produce a pulse of uni-directional current, C with terminal A and a similar mechanical contactor either positive or negative, the duration of each pulse is 24 connects terminal B to terminal D. in accordance timed by the weld timer 40 so that the pulses may have with the invention terminals A and D are each connected the shape and characteristics as shown in Figure 5. With to the second bus of the alternating current supply source the system operating as a conventional welder the timing by means of their respective conductors 25 and 26. An; of the alternating'current is such as to produce welding electric discharge valve is interposed in each of the pulses such as shown in Figure 6. conductors Z5 and 26, the said valve being oflthe asyrn- With the contactors 23: and'24 positioned as shown in metrically conducting type, and including an anode, a Figure l the welding system operates as a full wave cathode and an igniter. The electric discharge valve 27 rectifier of the single phase alternating current. When is interposed in the conductor and the igniter of said, Ll of the alternating current source is positive the. valve 'is connected by conductor 28 to the cathode of a Positive half Cycle Will flow hrough q ii iq :31 firing valve such as 30, The anode of said tiring valve through primary winding 14, through contactor 2,4, re is connected through the current limiting resistor 31 to turning through valve 3,2 to line Lz- When hi PQSi YC conductor 25. The electric discharge valve 312 is icon the pulse will flow through valve 27, through cont actor nected to conductor 26 and the igniter of said valve 23, primary winding 13, and through conductor. .18 to joinedby conductor 33 to the cathode of the firing valve ID t0 h rc cc r i y both-tile P iP Y h 34. The anode of said firing valveis connected through y l n l n g l YQ na n F?!- currentllimiting resistor 35 to conductor 26. it will he rent ar us 0 w li l h Pi'i y win ings n observed "that the electric discharge valves 27 and $2 a e ti vfrom l ft o igh Th f st pul e. n flowing are inversely connected to the alternating current source, g l w di g Will g ra a magnetic flux iii since conductor 25 connects the anode of .valve 27. to'the 30 transformer and this flux is incr a e n m gnitude by second bus, whereas, conductor 26 connects the cathode the action f I161 Pu of u nfl ins h l g l ofvalve'32'to the second bus. nd ng The succeeding current p e wh ch wi A third terminal is provided withrespectto terminals now" hrough h nd i the a di scticn :W

AandC and this third terminal isindicated by Blsince have the eff ct of bu lding up this magnet fill}; with the same is electrically connected through .condu f w the result that a steady rise in the flux takes place-in;

36 and 22 to the terminal,B, previouslyjreferred to, and li ng- 2 0f niirectional current in th WEld's Y having association with terminal, D. The said-pair of W ng wh 1 i Ql g l S B 9 5 9 terminals-D and B alsohavea third terminalassociated circuit @iiect 3 W in of the workpieces i therewith, namely, C1, which is connected by-rneans of a i of tilt? e ng P1115e is coniifoiiedr y l WfilQ conductor 37 to terminalC. Each of the contaetors 23 m u 5 w c y s incofPofaie 9 3.56. andZ may accordingly have two positions,,one o f whi h shifting circuit in order to control the magnitude ofis illustrated in Figure '2, wherein thefco'ntactor .23 cps h S QQQ Y pu se and thus its, heating fi fi li nects terminals Aan'd c with contactor J24, connecting c c 'd sj a a e 27v n 32 a e e e c aterminals D and B. The second, position of the conductive by the firing valves 39 n 34. which a e fii'fi tactors is .shown'in'Figure 3, wherein contactor 23- con- 5 6. b S- D Qg Q i- Qg .3 a are changed nects terminals A and B1 with contactorl lconnecting 1 fi v ,iiold'ofi i l0 a PQ l p ent a D and C1, The weldingsystem willproduce apo'sitive E C i Q W9 Q 11113611? Caused toriioiw h h in pulse of uni-directional current in the secondary Il 'd lugs 13' and 14 produces a rise in the magnetic flu); as circuit 15 h h mechanic: '1 n g 'j 'ds md described which results in the pips or ripple in the inas hown i Fi f 2, d'vg' i f' 5Q duced uni-directionalcurrent pulse, all as clearly shown tional current is produced in the secondary load circuit in ul i 11 Order to'iel'miDate ha na P9 IS when the mechanical 'contactors are positioned .as tion" h ne a iv l -Q i i is ppli again t gt d shown in Figure 3. Each pulse or uni-directional cur 2am 4, r n eri the electric discharge valves Ha rent, whether positive. or negative, willrper formla weld- 32 nz nd c e, land. e comp su ismissal ing operation anld'for timing-the pulse the gridsof tne 5,5. eis in spu sswi l a l l pi char c erist cs fi i g Valves 34) andfiQar'e connected to. a iveld. timer hPW l idfi l i' i fif i ihfi ii'? ris is s a v For example, the grid aha cathedeotfiriiig vaiyfaaam e pe k ma i um and then de ys fabr pfly o I er'e, connected "by means of the conductors 39 to fthe iwe ld A5 shown in-Figmie juthee n l; r a i'se' tim i di d by 1, 9 In a similar ij fii. consists of twenty pips so that the duration of'thepulse thegridan'd cathode of theff i Tng Valli/e54;areEconneQted i) may e said to consist of ten cycles of alternating'ciirby 'means of'conductors1'42 to said weld timei lill i t mi i Before 'deseribing'th'emode of operation-of m pmge For the 2 i W ld creati t Q 3,. l welding system forproducing the ,positii 'eand negative. 24 are Switched, to the Show in i pulses of uni-directional currentgit is desirable, to pQint w i' im valve t Y i connected/9ft out that'the'weldin y am' ma c c' fim d pgllxsgs wmdmgdS and valve '32 was connected to the t minal inal ofsixty-cycle alternatingcurrent and thus operate as a of winding F the connections are nqwrtrfiveisdiviiiiil conventional welder. .For this purposeit;isvnecessary-ito Valve being connemed to h ieimmai of winding 14,

and valve 32 being connected to the terminal of winding 24. It may be preferable to provide additionalswitching E .second Wading Operation" the i isyisi'i means such as thecont'actorsfiiiand. iltfand.saidtswitching 7.0 tam qlierates manner as abm/Q i fidi p l m means may'bepositioned as. shown in F-igure .-4finiorder changegthe position of the meChaDiCal-.C,0I1i a(;tOlS;23 and to cause the welder to operate as .a s xty-cycle Welder. a Such mode of operation ,can be achieved w-ithcontactor W9 3 w w i tqu ti err ma y windi g mt h t m 43 connecting terminals'A'and Cfwbil'ei atthe same time w ih l. m t r? item F 1. ei .ED xample contactor 44 connects terminals D andfCil, second il i ii fit i8 .PQ i VOib fi i i PlllSF w ll lw.

current source by causing thetposit'ive and negative' .hal

a full wave rectification of the single phase alternating;

being controlled windings of the transformer.

nected across 13 and 14 by conductor A contactor B3 is interposed in conductor relay includes an armature 48 result of current The relay windings X and Y are contactors X3 armature 48 so that the armature again contactor B4 closed the relay through armature 48. contactor X1 will close and contactor X2 w1ll open. Also contactor X3 will be closed, thus connecting terminals AC and DB relay has such a mode of operation that armature 48 is accordingly the relay winding X becomes deenergized, allowing contactors X1 and X2 to return to normal position and effecting actuation of X3 to open the contactors 23 and 24. The terminals AC and DB are thus disconnected.

For the next welding operation the same sequence of Relay winding Y result of the dotted line position now assumed by armature 43. Accordingly, contactor Y1 opens, contactor Y2 DCI of the welding system. Here again the actuation of the polarized relay is to reverse line position. However, relay winding energized through its by-pass circuit since both contactors contactors return to normal posi- 1 are disconnected.

in Figures 2 and 3. of uni-directional current accordingly reversed in polarity.

In order for the welding system to operate as a conshown in Figure 4. that the operator will manually connect 4 and'll.

connect terminals AC through winding the pulse will flow through conductor 18 through winding 14, from left to right, through valve 32, returning to the sou rce. When L2 is positive the pulseflows through valve 2 7,--through conductors 36 and 21, through winding 14 from right to leftpreturningby way of conductor 18. The second welding pulse of alternating current is similar to the first welding pulse and may have the same duration, depending on the setting of the weld timer. Sincefonly ahalf section ofthe primary winding was employed for each operation of the system as a conventionel welder, it is necessary for the welding transformer of the sameto be somewhat larger in capacity than normally required for a single phase sixty-cycle machine.

-Figure 9 illustrates schematically an electric circuit for controlling'the various operations for welding, beginning with the'actuation of the foot switch by the operator to the end of the Hold time period. Referring to said figure, the conductors Li and L represent a source of alternating current and the several timing devices are connectedacross the terminals of said source in parallel relation with each other. The conductor 56 is provided with afoot switch, with the contactor D1, and with the relay winding A. The by-pass circuit formed by conductor 57 by-passes thefoot switch and has the contactor B1 interposedtherein. When the operator closes the foot switch it will be seen that the relay winding A will he energized sincecontactor D1 is normally closed. The relay winding A has a contactor A1 interposed in the conductor '58, which conductor additionally includes the relay winding=59 having associated relation with an electrovalve formingone of the elements of the welding machine. When relay winding A is energized contactor A1 closes and the winding 59 of the electrovalve is energized. Operation of the electrovalve effects a closing of the electrodes ot the welding machine whereby they grip the work-pieces to be welded.

The electrovalve also controls the application of a predetermined pressure to the workpieces to cause a closing of the contactor PS, located in the circuit provided by conductor. 60. The circuit includes the squeeze timer so that the workpieces have a predetermined pressure applied thereto for a definite period of time as determined by said timer. Eventually relay winding B will be energized and contactors B1, B2, B3 and B4 are closed simultaneously. Closing of contactor B1 lay-passes the foot switch so that the operator can now release his foot and the welding operation will be continued automatically. Clos' ing of contactor B2 initiates the actuation of the weld timer such. as 40, identified in Figures 1 and 11. The closingof contactors B3 and B4 has been described in connectiori with Figures 7 and 8. At the end of the weld period-the relay Winding C is energized, which causes closing of contactor C1 in circuit with the hold timer and. the relay winding D. Actuation of the hold timer maintains the electrodes in closed position on the workpiecesfor-a predetermined interval following termination of the weld period. Upon termination of the hold time the. winding D will be energized and by energizing this winding the contactor D1 will be caused to open. The

' circuit to the relay winding A is accordingly opened so that the winding is de-energized and the effect is such asto cause opening of contactorAl and actuation of the electrovalve to release the electrodes from the workpiece.

The above sequence of events takes place for each weldingoperation and it is immaterial whether the contactors areset tor generating a positive or a negative pulse of unidirectional current in the secondary load circuit or for generating a pulse of sixtycycle alternating current. The invention accordingly provides a combination welder which will be useful for many different welding operations.

When used as a conventional A. C. spot welder it will have utility in all normal applications, requiring relatively lowcurrent with longer welding periods. As. for example, such a machine could deliver a maximum of 19,009 ampereswith a weld time extending to perhaps two seconds,. .and .based=on a twenty-four inch throat depth and an eight inh gap. between the arms a demand 0t approximate- 131 116 lgva. would be made on the power system. When the combination welder is converted to uni-directional welding pulses said machine will operate to deliver a welding pulseo t 43,090 amperesmaxirnum, with a weld time odtheorder of from five to approximately ten cycles of the alternatingcurrent source. In thislatter case the demand on the power system would approximate only 9 3 kva. ,Thus, although the secondary current is 2.25 times higher than when delivering sixty-cycle secondary current, the demand from the power system is reduced to eight-tenths of that required to deliver the lower secondary current. In the welding of aluminum higher currents lasting approximately five cycles are required, whereas for weldingsteel longer periods with lower currents are required, such as are obtained with the conventional single phasesixtycycle operation.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a preferred arrangement for theprimary winding of the welding transformer disclosed in Figures 1 and 11. Although said Figuresl and 1.1.illustrate the principle of the present invention, it is neces sary to utilize for the A. C. welder less than the full numberof turns 1 the primary winding foreither half section thereof. It, for example, on a certain welder there were 144 turns for each half section of the primary winding, such a primary winding would produce a maxicurrent of approximately 43,000 amperes with the machine operating as an impulse welder. However, with the welder converted for use as an A. C. welder, it is required thatusebe made of only 72 turns of the primary winding in order to produce" a secondary current of 19,000 ampere s. The wiring arrangement/for the primary winding is accordingly based on theforegoing since the complete winding for the primary is illustrated as composed of four primary coils identified by numerals 65, e6, 67 and 68. For illustrative purposes each primary coil may be considered as having seventy-two turns and all four coils are utilizedin series, as shown in Figure 12, when the welder is connected for operation as an impulse welder. However, when operating asa conventional A. C. welder, and assuming that the contactors are so positioned as to energize the right half of the primary winding, it will be observed that a parallel connection of the two primary coils 67 and 68 are resorted to in order to provide a seventy-two to one turn ratio for the transformer. Thus, with the two coils connected in parallel by conductors 69 and 70 this entire right half of the primary winding is employed, although the turn ratio is maintained sufliciently'low enough to induce the proper voltage and amperage in the secondary current. There are many conventional switching devices on the market for effecting a seriesparallel switching operation and any of these may be employed to produce the necessary switchingof coils 6 7 and 6S asabove explained.

"The impulse welder and single phase line frequency welder of the invention may be embodied in a system such as shown in Figure 14, wherein the QQntactors em: ployed in the devices of Figures 1 and 11 are eliminated; and current flow is controlled instead by four electric dis charge valves disposed in pairs, with each pair being connected in back to back relation. system of figure 14 is disclosed and claimed in the Farsons et al. Patent No. 2,510,652, granted June 6, 195i). The welding transformer 86 consists of a primary winding including aleft hand winding 8t and a righthand winding 82. A secondary winding 33 is wound on the same iron core so as to have inducti e relation withthe primary ,windings. The current supply for the welding transformer is the conventional single phase sixty-cycle alternating current as delivered by the first and second buses L1 and L2, respectively. The first bus is connectedby conductor 5 to theprimary winding, the said conductor pro; viding a center tap for the winding, which divides the into the left hand winding 81 and the right hand winding 82, as described. The second bus is connected .by con- The basic welding 2,728,048 ductor 86 to the terminal of winding 81 and the second for the following welding operation; and whereby said bus is also connected by conductor 87 to the terminal of groups alternate to produce alternating positive and negaand said valves are connected in back to back relation a conventional sixty-cycle welder, switch 102 is opened,

90, and with the anode of 88 being connected to the figure. Also divider 103 is rotated to m cathode of 90. The electric discharge valve 88 has assoat 104 with conductor 105. The etfec ciated therewith a firing valve 91 and in a similar manner is to reduce the number of t firing valve 92 is associated with electric discharge valve 81, which, as explained, is ne The grids and cathodes of the firing valves 91 and the system as an A. C. welder. 92 are connected by conductors 93 and 94, with a weld renders the discharge valves 96 timer generally indicated by numeral 95. The weld timer that the A. C. welder employs only valves 88 and 90, the

normally applies a biasing potential to the grids of the same functioning as contactors to pass the sixty-cycle ing valves 91 and 92, thus holding the firing valves and alternating current of the source through winding 81 the electric discharge valves in a non-conductive state Instead of using the divider 103 the primary winding of to thereby render their respective discharge valves concenter tap conductor. When the ductive. The second group of electric discharge valves impulse welder the four primary coils are connected in is interposed in conductor 87, the same consisting of series. However, for operation as a conventional A C valves 96 and 97 connected in back to back relation and welder the turn ratio is reduced by connecting the two each having associated therewith a firing valve such as 98 coils on either half of the primary in parallel relation and 99, respectively. The conductors 100 and 101 conwith each other.

nect the grids and cathodes of the firing valves to the The invention is not to be limited to nor by details 01 weld timer which controls the firing of said valves and construction of the particular embodiment thereof illusthus the conductivity of the electiic discharge valves 96 trated by the drawings as various other forms of the and 97 in a manner as herein describe device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the For operation as an impulse Welder the electric disart without departing from the spirit charge valves 88 and 97 are rendered conductive, for the scope of the claims.

which purpose the switch 102 is closed and the primary What is claimed is: winding is center-tapped by the divider 103 provided by 1. In a combination welding system, a source of alterconductor 85. When the first bus is positive the current nating current comprising a first and a second bus, a

pulse is transmitted through conductor 85 and divider 4 transformer including a primary windin which flux is increased in magnitude by the action of the and connections between the electric disch arge valves and next pulse of current in flowing through winding 82, also the terminals of the primary winding,

said connections in a direction from right to left. The succeeding current having a plurality of positions to cause the current to flow pulses which flow through the windings in a manner as through the primary winding in a difierent manner for described have the effect of buildin' up this magnetic each position, whereby either positive or ne ative pulses flux so that a steady rise in the flux takes place, inducing of uni-directional current are induced in the secondary effect rectify the alternating current of the source and source, supply a uni-directional current to each primary winding 2 In a combination welding system a source of alterand which have the same polarity since they flow in the nating current comprising a first and a second bus, a same direction as regards both windings. When the elec- 0 transformer including a primary winding on an iron core trio discharge valves 88 and 97 are rendered non-conducand having inductive relation with a secondary load an tive the welding operation is completed and the impulse cuit, a center tap conductor connecting the primary windof uni-d rectional current induced in the secondary such ing to the first bus whereby said winding consists of two as shown in Figure 5, performs the desired Welding as sections on respect ve sides of the center tap with each herein described, section providing a terminal, a pair of asymmetrically If it is assumed that electric discharge valves 88 and 97 conducting electric discharge valves connected inversely produce a positive impulse of uni-directional current in to the second bus, whereby one electric discharge valve the secondary, then a negative impulse can be induced for when conductive will pass the positive half cycles of the the next welding operation by rendering valves and alternating current and the other electric discharge valve conductive. The action is the same as above described 70 when conductive will pass the negative halt cycles, and except that current flow takes place in the windings 81 connections between the electric discharge valves and the tional current will; be induced. in. the. secondary load. .cir.-

circuit? having the same frequency as the. source.-

3. A combination-welding ,systemas-defined. in claim2, additionally .including a timer for controlling-the. conductivity of the. electric. discharge valves .to :time the duration of currentfiowthroughthe primary windingqfor all positionsof the connections.

4; In a combinationiwelding system, asource of alternatingcurrent comprising a first bus and: a'second bus, a transformer including.aprimary winding on anxiron core and-having inductive relation with .as secondaryload cir-. cui't, acenter tap. conductor. connecting the primary .windingrto the firstbuswhereby.saidlwinding,consistsof two sections on respective. sides of the center tap with each sectionproviding. a terminal, a..pair. of asymmetrically conductingelectric discharge valves connected inversely to. the, second bus, whereby one. electric. discharge valve when conductive will .passthe. positive half cycles ofthe alternating. current and theother electric discharge valve when conductivewill. pass .thenegative half cycles, and switchingelernents for each scctionoithe primary windirigprovidingconnections between its respective electric discharge valve. and the terminals of the primary winding, said switchingel'ernents having .a -plurality of positions. to cause the current to flow through the primary winding inadifierent manner for. each position, whereby for certain positions either a positive or a negative pulse of uni-directional currentwill be induced 'in the secondary loadllcir'cuit, and for other positions .an alternating current, will be induced in said. secondary load. circuit having the. same frequency as .the source.

5i A combination weldingsystern-z as defined inclairn 2. additionally including atirner for controlling-the conductivity of the electric discharge valvesto time the duration of current flow through the primary winding for all positions of the connections.

'6. In acombination welding-system, a sourceof alternating current comprising a first bus and a second bus, a load circuit comprising aprirnary winding second and third terminal, a conductor. connecting the second terminal to the first bus, a first electric discharge valve including an anode, acathode and an igniter, a conductor. connecting the anode of the first valve-to the second bus; a second electric discharge valve, including. an anode, a cathode and an igniter, a conductor connecting;

the cathode of thesecond. valve to the second bus, switching'means for. the first electric discharge valve. for con.-

nectirig the cathode of the valveto either the first or third.

terminal of theload circuit, other switching means for the second electric discharge. valve, for. connecting the anode of the valve to either the first .or third terminal .or" the load circuit, and a timer inelectrical connection with the i'gnitefrs otthe electric discharge. valves v uncontrolliiig the conductivity of the valves.

7. In. a combination welding system, nating current comprising a a load"circuit' comprisinga primary first, second and third terminal, a conductor=connecting the second terminal'to the first bus, a first and asecond electric discharge valve each including an, anode, av cathode andian igniter, said valvesbeing connected to the a. source of altersecondbus in inverse relation so that one valve when.

conductive will'pass the positive half cycles of the. alternating current and the other val-vewhen conductive. will pass the-negative halt cycles, first switching meansfor the first electric discharge valve for connecting the valve to either the first or third'terminal of the. load circuit, and second switching means for the. second electric. discharge valve for connecting the first. or third terminal of said load circuits 8i A combination welding system'as definedby. claim 7} additionally including means responsive to current .fiow

having a first,

first bus and a second bus, winding. having. a.

said second valve. to. either.

-valve, said. valves each having nating current cally. conducting electric inthe load;circuit toractuating both said switching neans whereby toswitchthe connection of the, first valve fron i the.first-to thethirdterminal and to switch the-connec.- tionrofnthesecond valve from the third to the;first termi.. nal. and vice-versa, and timing means in electrical connection with the ignitersof the electric dischargevalves for controlling the conductivity of thevalves.

9=- In a' combination welding system, a source of alternatingcurrent comprising a first bus and a secondbus, a.

welding,transtorrner providing a primary winding said;

primary windinghaving a center tap connectedto the first bus and which divides the winding into. two sections each; havinga terminal, means connecting. the terminalstothe secondfbus including a first and second electricdischarge an. anode, a cathode and; an igniter and said .valves being inverselyconnected to, the. second bus so that-one valve when conductive will; passthe positive half cycles of the alternating-current; and the other valve when conductive will pass-thenega; tive half cycles, and contactors connecting the valves with, said terminals and having a plurality of positions .to cause the.current to how through the primary winding in a different manner for each position.

10. .In a combination welding system, a source. of-altcr:

comprising a. first bus and a second bus, a. welding transformer providing a. primary winding, said. primary winding having a center tap connected to, the. first bus and which divides thewinding into two sections, eachv having a terminal, means. connecting the terminals, to the second bus including a first and second electric discharge. valve, saidv valves each having an anode, acathode and an igniter and said valves being inversely, connected to the second. bus so' that one valve when: conductive will pass the positive half cycles of the alten. nating current and the other, valve. when conductive will pass the negative half cycles, a contactor for connect-. ing the first electric discharge valve. to either termiual, and a second contactor for connecting the second electric discharge. valve to either terminal, each ,contactor'thereforhaving two different positions, and forthe pluralityi of possible positionsfor said contactorsthe current will u flow through the primary windingin a different manner for each such position.

11. In a combination welding systern, nating. current comprising a first bus and-a second bus, awelding transformer providing a primary windingand, a secondary load. circuit, said primary winding having a center tap terminal and a first and second. endterrninal,w

av conductor connecting the center tap. terminal to the av sourceof alterfirst .bus, first and second electric dischargevalvesjn as.

. when, conductivev will pass the positive vhalficyclcs of the:

alternating; current andthe. other valve when conductive willpass, the negative half cycles, a, first.contactor, for connecting the first electric. discharge, valve. to. either. the first or second terminal, a. second.contactorforconnecting, the second electric discharge valve to. either. thefirst or second terminal, whereby current, flows through the; primary. winding in av different manner for. the sev-. eral difierent positions of the contactors, and.- a timer. in electrical connection with the igniters ofv the elec.-. tric discharge valves for controlling the conductivityof the valves.

12. In a combination weldingsystem, a source. of alternating current comprising a-first bus; andia secondbus, a. transformer. in-luding a primary Winding. on aniron. core and having inductive relation with a secondary. load. circuit, a center tap conductor. connecting. the primary winding to the first bus. whereby saidwinding consists. of two. sections onrespective. sides of the. center. tap with each section providing a terminal, a pair; of asymmetridischarge valves connected: in:

a cathode and an igniter and said valves being inversely connected to the second bus so that one valve When concluctive Will pass the positive half cycles of the alternating current and the other valve When conductive will pass parallel circuit arrangement when the switching elements are located in certain other positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Da Rosa et al Nov. 4, 1947 Dawson May 23? 1950 

